Proposed cow farm will be next to houses - FAA
MEPA will tomorrow be considering an application for a new cow farm on arable land right next to residential homes in Maghtab even while nearby disused farms are being converted to warehouses, Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA) complained today. The...
MEPA will tomorrow be considering an application for a new cow farm on arable land right next to residential homes in Maghtab even while nearby disused farms are being converted to warehouses, Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA) complained today.
The environment NGO said the MEPA case officer who assessed the application was recommending the granting of a development permit.
“This comes as no surprise as only last April, MEPA granted another outline development permit for the construction of a pig farm on another 5,000m2 of fresh arable agricultural land very close to this proposed development,” the FAA said.
“All this is happening when just across the alley from this proposed development, an application is pending for the construction of warehousing facilities (PA 06929/07) in a long abandoned farming structure that occupies circa 18,000m2 of land. Other farmhouses in the vicinity are also being converted and used for other purposes, such as the storage of building construction material and machinery.”
The NGO said MEPA’s recent “State of the Environment Report” clearly stated that greater emphasis had to be placed on the protection of the rural environment.
“The taking up of more agricultural land for development does not augur well for the future,” the FAA said.
“In spite of the huge negative visual and physical impact these large cowsheds will have, being situated on Triq is-Salina on the way to Naxxar, a very busy road widely used by both Maltese and tourists, the Case Officer completely ignored Policy 1.3A (Policy and Design Guidance, Agriculture, Farm Diversification and Stables) which seeks to preserve rural character and landscape” the organisation added.